NIRIN at Home: Homemade Watercolour Paints

Inspired by Iltja Ntjarra / Many Hands Art Centre, home of the Namatjira watercolour artists, learn how vegetables can be used to make watercolour paints

About Iltja Ntjarra / Many Hands Art Centre

Iltja Ntjarra / Many Hands Art Centre is proudly Aboriginal owned and directed. It is the home of the Namatjira watercolour artists. The Art Centre was established by Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation and started operating in 2004, as a not-for-profit Art Centre to provide a place for Arrernte Artists to come together to paint, share and learn new techniques and ideas. The Art Centre is strongly committed to improving economic participation of Aboriginal people and maintaining cultural heritage.

Iltja Ntjarra has a special focus on supporting the ‘Hermannsburg School’ style watercolour artists, who continue to paint in the tradition of their grandfather and relative, Albert Namatjira, arguably one of Australia’s most famous artists of the 20th century. Albert Namatjira taught his children to follow in his unique style, who have since passed this knowledge on to their children, which has resonated in a legacy of watercolour artists in the Central Desert region. By continuing his legacy, these artists sustain an important piece of living history.

I have had to move house. We can't stay because of too much problems. I live at the Aboriginal Hostel. It is far away from the Art Centre. I have had to move house. We can't stay because of too much problems. I live at the Aboriginal Hostel. It is far away from the Art Centre., Vanessa Inkamala, 2018/2019, From the collection of: Biennale of Sydney
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Letting families and friend know not to drink and smoke drug. Be Healthy. Letting families and friend know not to drink and smoke drug. Be Healthy., Kathy Inkamala, 2018/2019, From the collection of: Biennale of Sydney
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Homeless Homeless Homeless Homeless, Vanessa Inkamala, 2018/2019, From the collection of: Biennale of Sydney
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What you will need

Brightly coloured fruits, vegetables and/or spices (we recommend beetroot, blueberries, strawberries, turmeric, paprika)
Water
Saucepan
Salt
White vinegar

Method

1. Gather your fruits, vegetables and/or spices.
2. Add one cup of water to a saucepan. You'll need to boil your ingredients separately to avoid mixing the colours.
3. Add one fruit/vegetable/spice to the saucepan. Note: the more you add to the water, the darker the colour will be!
4. Add a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of white vinegar to the saucepan.
5. Bring the mixture to the boil, then switch off the heat.
6. Leave the mixture to cool completely. Then strain the vegetables from the water.
7. Use the coloured water to paint.

We’d love to see how you use these resources at home. Post your stories and photos with the hashtag #NIRINatHome.

Watercolour painted bag, From the collection of: Biennale of Sydney
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Making watercolour paints, 2020, From the collection of: Biennale of Sydney
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Credits: Story

To keep exploring, download the Iltja Ntjarra / Many Hands Art Centre Learning Resource from the Biennale's website or view the inspiring 'dollar shop' bags presented at NIRIN.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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Related theme
NIRIN: Art From the Edge
The Biennale of Sydney (2020) presents contemporary art from around the globe in a First Nations-led exhibition
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